Former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei “The Pit Bull” Arlovski (15-8) is a proud Belarusian American fighter, and when a couple of his fellow Strikeforce heavyweight World Grand Prix tournament participants talk about being “proud Russians” some of the undertones get under “The Pit Bull’s” skin.
Arlovski grew up in Belarus, which up until 1990 when they declared their independence, was a republic of the former Soviet Union. Neighboring countries who share more than borders will always have their own independent mindsets, but when tournament opponents, Russians Fedor Emelianenko and Sergei Kharitonov, say things like Belarus is a “Slavic country” or that he, Arlovski, “has the mentality of an American” it has the former UFC champ seeing red.
Arlovski’s longtime manager Leo Khorolinsky has come out in his fighters defense, knowing that both Russian fighters don’t likely intend anything sinister with their comments, they don’t understand what it means to be in “The Pit Bulls” shoes.
“I don’t think Fedor nor Sergei are qualified to judge Andrei. They’ve never been in his shoes. They’ve never lived the kind of life he leads. Andre is very grateful to the United States and for his opportunity to fight in his second home. But he knows where he comes from…We live in a global world. This is a global sport. Let’s be athletes and respect each other.”
Arlovski will meet Kharitonov this Saturday in the opening round of the tournament quarterfinal bouts. Both men will co-headline the Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Silva show at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
HT: ESPN.com for the quotes